William Smyth Quotes
Nations, like individuals, never condescend to stop and examine how far the arguments and feelings of their opponents may be reasonable and just; and it follows from hence, that men of rank and influence in our community can never be better employed than in prevailing on their countrymen to pause and reflect: to remember that in every quarrel there must necessarily be two sides, and that it would be a marvelous circumstance indeed, if the one side, i. e. themselves, were exclusively in the right.
It would be wonderful of polarized American politicians these days had taken Professor Smyth’s course, and paid heed to his advice. But few politicians in either England or America function as if they believe this basic principle of human nature.
William Smyth, 1765–1849, English Historian, Lectures on Modern History, published 1854
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One of the claimed advantages to the American system of primaries and a long Presidential campaign, it to have enough time and pressure to have each candidate be observed when things are not going smoothly so that the American electorate can determine his character when under pressure if things are not doing well.
Spinoza’s ideas were considered so radical and dangerous that he was the only man in history who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims.
William Smyth (or Smith) was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1493 to 1496 and then Bishop of Lincoln until his death. He held political offices, the most important being Lord President of the Council of Wales and the Marches. He became very wealthy and was a benefactor of a number of institutions. He was a co-founder of Brasenose College, Oxford and endowed a grammar school in the village of his birth in Lancashire.
